As I write this blog post, I really cannot believe that it has already been two years since I started my microlocs journey, and a little over two years since I started building Omalocs Beauty. When people say the time will pass anyway, just get the locs, they are not lying. The time really does fly. That is why it is so important to enjoy your locs in every stage and appreciate them exactly where they are today, knowing they will look different tomorrow.

If I had to choose one word to describe my loc journey so far, it would be peaceful. Microlocs have allowed me to rest in ways I did not realize I needed. Instead of constantly thinking about how to style my hair, my routine has shifted to a predictable 6 to 8 week self care ritual that I actually look forward to. It is one of the rare moments where I sit with my hair, pay attention to my scalp, and really understand what is happening with each individual loc.

Here is an update on how things have been going over the past six months since my last post, and what I have learned along the way.

My Current Microlocs Routine

Overall, things have been going really well. I still get compliments everywhere I go and people often stop me on the street to ask about my hair. Because of that, I started carrying my Omalocs Beauty & Get Microlocs Near Me cards so I can easily share the resource with anyone curious about starting their own microlocs journey. It is always funny when you catch someone staring because they are curious and completely in awe of your hair.

These days, my routine is extremely simple. I rarely style my hair unless I am going to a special event or want to switch it up for a weekend outing. During the week it is usually in one of three styles: low ponytail, low bun, half up, half down.

For washing, I typically cleanse my hair every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on what my scalp needs. I still rotate between my three core shampoos. When it comes to moisture, I keep things minimal. I moisturize my hair about 2 to 3 times a week and try not to overload my locs with products. I also limit my use of mousse (to date, I’ve only used it twice), and prefer to set my curls with water. As long as I give them enough time to dry, they still hold beautifully.

Dealing With Seborrheic Dermatitis

One major update is that I am no longer dealing with seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp. The prescription my dermatologist gave me worked like a charm. If you are dealing with a similar issue, my advice is to see a doctor if you can. Sometimes we spend so much time trying random products when the best solution is actually medical guidance. Since then my scalp has been healthy and balanced. It has not been overly dry either. If I start to notice flakes, washing my hair usually solves the problem. Another pleasant surprise is that my edges, which were damaged from a set of boho braids before I started my microlocs, have filled in beautifully.

The Reality of Lint in Microlocs

One thing I recently stopped doing is using jojoba oil on my scalp. I started to suspect that it might be attracting lint, dust, and debris to my locs. About a month or two ago I took a really close look at my hair and noticed something surprising. Every single microloc (I MEAN EVERY) had tiny combinations of sebum, lint fibers, and dust embedded along different parts of the loc. It was not visible to the eye, but once I noticed it, I could not unsee it.

Whenever I had a quiet moment, I found myself inspecting my locs and picking lint out with a very pointy pair of tweezers. I do not recommend doing this because you can damage the structure of your locs if you are not careful, but I will admit it was oddly satisfying. My former loctician warned me early on that lint can ruin a beautiful set of locs. While dyeing locs can sometimes mask lint later, prevention is the best approach. Now I focus on, limiting product use, wearing my bonnet consistently being mindful of fabrics that shed.

At the same time, I believe some level of lint and buildup is inevitable. Our hair is constantly exposed to the environment. Anyone who says they have zero lint probably just has not looked closely enough.

The Tool I Never Thought I Would Love: A Loc Brush

One thing I recently added to my routine is a loc brush. I used to be a complete non believer. Now I am hooked. I can only use it comfortably during the first one to three weeks after a retie. After that point, it tends to snag at the roots. But during that early window it works extremely well to loosen tiny particles like lint, dust, and dead scalp cells. I try to use it before bed, before washing my hair and after washing my hair to get rid of any dust before it gets deeply embedded. It also helps smooth my locs when styling in a way that my hands simply cannot.

Self Retie Update

I am still maintaining my microlocs myself and recently moved to an 8 week retie schedule. I am hoping this makes my self maintenance journey easier because I do not have to think about my hair as often. Every two months feels sustainable, and not thinking about my hair daily has honestly been amazing.

This past weekend I completed my eighth self retie, and it only took 8 hours. That is my fastest retie yet. My goal is to eventually get my reties down to 6 hours. Though I’m not sure if that will ever be possible, having a goal motivates me to improve each time. For context, my longest retie early in my journey took 11 hours and 45 minutes. Seeing how much progress I have made while still maintaining my grid makes me feel incredibly accomplished.

Moving from a 6 week schedule to an 8 week schedule also helped me realize how quickly my hair grows. At 6 weeks, I typically did 4 to 6 rotations per loc. At 8 weeks, I am doing 8 to 10 rotations per loc. Interestingly, the extra rotations did not significantly increase my retie time, which tells me there is still room to get faster. I need to be careful though, because the faster you go, the easier it is to make mistakes, like putting knots in your locs!

A few months ago I checked in with my retired loctician. She was happy to hear that I have been retightening my own hair, but she recommended seeing a loctician once or twice a year just to make sure everything looks healthy. I plan to schedule a consultation with a loctician near me soon using the Get Microlocs Near Me app to find a microlocs professional nearby. I also want to do a loc detox at a salon because it feels like the right time for a deep clean.

From what I can tell so far, my microlocs look and feel healthy. None have fallen out or thinned. I do have a few shorter locs around the front and along my back perimeter that still experience occasional slippage, but overall things look good. Still, it will be nice to get professional reassurance that everything is on the right track.

The Biggest Change From Year One to Year Two

One of the biggest changes I have noticed from year one to year two is the increase in thickness and volume in my locs. During my first year, my locs were still finding themselves. They were smaller, lighter, and in many ways still settling into their final structure. Over the past year, I have noticed them filling out and becoming much fuller, which has given my hair a lot more presence and volume overall.

Interestingly, the length of my locs looks mostly the same as it did a year ago (according to my sister). My hair has definitely grown, but because the locs have thickened so much, the added volume makes the length less noticeable. It is one of those funny parts of the loc journey. Your hair is growing, but the growth sometimes shows up in thickness and fullness before it shows up in visible length. I actually love this “flow” stage. My locs feel more mature and they move differently than they did in the beginning. It is one of those subtle changes that you only really notice when you’ve had your locs for a while.

The Most Important Lesson From My Microlocs Journey

There is honestly so much more I could say, but I am exhausted. I’m looking forward to sharing more about what’s been keeping me so busy over the next few weeks.

The most important lesson I have learned during my microlocs journey so far is that the rules are meant to be adapted. Your loc journey is only as freeing as you allow it to be. What works for one person may not work for you, and that is completely okay. Listen to your locs. Pay attention to what your hair needs. At the end of the day, this is your journey.

As always, I will leave you with a few photos from the past six months. If you want to follow my microlocs journey in real time, you can find me on Instagram @omalocsbeauty. Thank you for following along and cheers to embarking on year three.